Automatic mobile device website login

ABSTRACT

A processing system receives device registration information from a registered user of a website. The device registration information includes a registered telephone number assigned to a mobile communications device. The processing system receives a request for a homepage of the website from a requesting mobile communications device coupled to the processing system via a mobile carrier communications system. The Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the request is obtained, and the processing system obtains a telephone number currently associated with the IP address from a mobile carrier communications system. The processing system attempts to automatically login the requesting mobile communications device to the website by matching the telephone number currently associated with the IP address to the registered telephone number, and conditionally transmits different versions of the homepage based on whether the requesting mobile communications device has been automatically logged in to the website.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. § 120, as a continuation of U.S. Utility patent applicationSer. No. 13/746,400, entitled “COMPUTER BASED METHOD AND SYSTEM FORLOGGING IN A USER MOBILE DEVICE AT A SERVER COMPUTER SYSTEM,” filed Jan.22, 2013, scheduled to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 9,973,875 on May 15, 2018,which is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Utility patent applicationSer. No. 12/234,488, entitled “A COMPUTER BASED METHOD AND SYSTEM FORLOGGING IN A USER MOBILE DEVICE AT A SERVER COMPUTER SYSTEM,” filed Sep.19, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,359,031 issued on Jan. 22, 2013, all ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety andmade part of the present U.S. Utility patent application for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1). Field of the Invention

This invention relates to providing a mobile device access to a website,and more particularly to automated login of a mobile device to awebsite.

2). Discussion of Related Art

Mobile phones usually have a number of ringtones that are installed by amanufacturer. A user can select a ringtone from a drop-down list, and itis also sometimes possible to associate different ringtones withdifferent incoming phone numbers.

A user may wish to download a ringtone from a remote server and storethe ringtone in memory of the mobile phone. However, a mobile phone andthe network that it is connected to are usually too slow and the viewingcapabilities on the mobile phone are too limited for finding media on aremote server. A company that provides mobile media content for use onmobile phones will usually also have a website that is accessible from auser computer system over the Internet. The user of the mobile phone maymake use of the user computer system to find listings of mobile contenton the website through browsing or searching functionality built intothe website, and then instruct the website to facilitate downloading ofthe media content to the mobile phone. A message may, for example, besent to the mobile phone, and the message can include a link to themedia content on the server.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network system in which aspects of theinvention are manifested;

FIG. 2 is a screenshot of a browser view that displays a view of awebsite;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, after a search has been conductedfor media files in a database in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, wherein registration and logininformation are completed and an instruction is sent to a servercomputer system to transmit a media file to a user mobile device;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a user mobile device displaying an SMS messagethat is received by the user mobile device, the message including alink;

FIG. 6 displays a view on a WAP browser of the user mobile device toconfirm downloading of a media file into memory of the user mobiledevice;

FIG. 7 is a view that is displayed on the user mobile device followingsuccessful downloading and saving of the media file;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating components that are usedprimarily for processing a search request in a message from the usermobile device;

FIGS. 9 to 14 are views that are displayed on the user mobile device toillustrate the functioning of the system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of components of a server computer system inFIG. 1;

FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating various interactions withfunctionalities supported by the disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a screen shot of an Internet browser view displaying auser-specific homepage from a registered user area;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a general homepage from anunregistered user area;

FIG. 17A is a view similar to FIG. 17 showing a general homepage from anunregistered user area with a roadblock;

FIG. 18 illustrates a computer and network system that can be used forautomatic login of mobile device;

FIG. 19 illustrates signals that are transmitted between the servercomputer system, the carrier computer system, and the user mobiledevice;

FIG. 19A illustrates signals that are transmitted between the servercomputer system, the carrier computer system, and the user mobiledevice; and

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of components of a server computer system inFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Network Overview

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a network system 20 thatembodies features of the invention. The network system 20 includes aserver computer system 22, a plurality of user computer systems 24, 26,and 28 that are connected to the server computer system 22 over anetwork in the form of the Internet 30, and a plurality of user mobiledevices 32, 34, and 36 that are connected over a Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP) network 38 and over a Short Message Service (SMS) andMultimedia Messaging Service (MMS) network 40 to the server computersystem 22.

The server computer system 22 includes a file store in the form of afile server 42, a data store in the form of a file database 44, acontent delivery platform and content management system 46, a Web site48, a WAP site 50, an SMS/MMS gateway 52, and a transcoding service 54.The file database 44 is connected to the file server 42. The contentdelivery platform and content management system 46 forms the center ofthe server computer system 22, and all other components including theWeb site 48, WAP site 50, SMS/MMS gateway 52, transcoding service 54,file server 42, and file database 44 are directly connected to thecontent delivery platform and content management system 46. The contentdelivery platform and content management system 46 indexes files such asringtones (reduced media content), full-track content, games, wallpaper,and graphics from the file server 42 into the file database 44 and in astructured manner, as will be required for downloading and for the Website 48, WAP 50, SMS/MMS gateway 52, and transcoding service 54. In someembodiments, the content delivery platform and content management system46 manages delivery of, and access to, various content from variouscontent sources. Content sources can include the server computer system22, computer systems, additional separate server computer systems,mobile devices, and the like coupled to the server computer system 22over a network, such as the Internet 30. Content can include streamingcontent such as one or more playlists of streaming media files, dataassociated with the playlists stored in one or more locations. Forexample, content delivery platform and content management system 46, insome embodiments, manages delivery of streaming content from a radiostation, to which the server computer system is coupled over theInternet 30, to various user computer systems 24, 26, and 28 and usermobile devices 32, 34, and 36, through one or more websites 48, SMS/MMSgateways 52, and WAP sites 50. In some embodiments, the content deliveryplatform and content management system 46 manages data associated withusers, including user interactions with various content, user-createdcustom radio stations for accessing certain content, and the like. Userinteractions can include, without limitation accessing certain content,providing certain actions with regard to certain content, and specifyingpreferences and parameters that are used to create custom collections,playlists, and the like. Actions with regard to certain content caninclude providing feedback regarding certain content, including, withoutlimitation, a rating and a vote regarding a certain media file providedto the user. Custom collections and playlists of content can includecustom radio stations that can provide streaming and stored content fromone or more various content sources, where the content provided isdetermined based on one or more of preferences and parameters specifiedby the user. User-created custom radio stations can be used to providecontent to a user from a remote content source, such as a radio station,and content stored in the file server 42 based on preferences,parameters, and the like specified by the user. Data associated withcustom stations, including one or more of user-specified stationpreferences and parameters, can be stored in one or more of the usercomputer systems 24, 26, and 28; user mobile devices 32, 34, and 36; andfile database 44. In some embodiments, data associated with a customstation created by a particular user can be indexed with data associatedwith the particular user in file database 44. The transcoding service 54prepares communications suitable for transmission over the Internet 30,WAP network 38, and SMS/MMS network 40.

2. Web Site

FIG. 2 illustrates a home page 163 within a browser view 53 at the usercomputer system 24, 26, or 28 in FIG. 1. The browser view 53 forms partof an Internet browser application such as Internet Explorer®,Netscape®, or Firefox®. The browser view 53 includes a viewing pane 55within which the home page 163 is displayed. The browser view 53 alsoincludes a vertical scroll bar 56 that can be moved up or down to viewportions of the home page 163 if the entire home page 163 does not fitvertically within the viewing pane 55. The browser view 53 also has anaddress box 58 and back and forward buttons 60. A user can use a mouseto move a cursor 62 into the address box 58, and then depress a buttonon the mouse to select the address box 58. The user can then utilize akeyboard to enter text such as “thumbplay.com” in the address box 58,and can then depress an “enter” key on the keyboard to transmit a signaland a request for a page. The text within the address box 58 can also beautomatically updated, for example when a user logs into the home page163. The back and forward buttons 60 can be used to view earlier orsubsequent pages. In some embodiments, the user interacts with variousfeatures provided by the home page 163 to access various contentassociated with the server computer system 22 illustrated in FIG. 1. Forexample, a user can interact with various features provided by the homepage 163 to receive streaming content from a radio station and create acustomized radio station that streams selected content from the radiostation based on preferences provided by the user. In some embodiments,the user interacts with various features provided by the home page 163to specify one or more of preferences and parameters regarding thevarious features. In some embodiments, the user interacts with variousfeatures provided by the home page 163 to provide feedback regardingvarious content including, without limitation, ratings and votesregarding the content, the content source, and the like.

The home page 163 is in a general area of the Web site 48 in FIG. 1. Thehome page 163 includes tabs 165A to 165F that provide links to otherpages of the general area. In some embodiments, the homepage providesaccess to various content, including streaming content and ringtones. Inthe home page 163, the tab 165B is highlighted, indicating that the homepage 163 is in a portion of the general area relating to ringtones.

The home page 163 is typically displayed at one of the user computersystems 24, 26, or 28 in FIG. 1, and provides the user computer systems24, 26, or 28 access to content, including streaming content andringtones, through a browse menu 169 or by entering text in a search box171. Text can, for example, be entered in the search box 171, and anacquiring user can then either select a “go” button, or hit “enter” on akeyboard to cause transmission of a signal from the user computersystems 24, 26, or 28 over the internet 30 to the Web site 48 in FIG. 1.The signal includes an address for the Web site 48, a query that isentered in the search box 171, and a return address for the usercomputer systems 24, 26, or 28. The query is used at the Web site 48 toextract one or more search results. A signal is then transmitted fromthe Web site 48 over the internet 30 to the user computer systems 24,26, or 28, the signal including the search result or search results andan address corresponding to the return address received from the usercomputer 24, 26, or 28.

Not every signal is described in detail herein. One skilled in the artwill appreciate that a signal is generated by and transmitted from onecomputer system and received and processed at another computer system,and will also appreciate what the contents of such a signal will be. Oneskilled in the art will also appreciate that a computerized step istypically carried out by a respective module of software code stored inmemory of a computer. For example, a transmission step is typicallycarried out by a transmission module, a receiving step is carried out bya receiving module, a password generation step is carried out by apassword generation module, etc. These modules are connected to oneanother so that a step carried out by one module can be followed by astep carried out by another module.

FIG. 3 shows a view 176 that includes a download page with a pluralityof search results 178 that are received at the user computer systems 24,26, or 28 over the Internet 30 from the Web site 48. Each search result178 includes a ringtone name, an artist name, and a ringtone downloadbutton 180, among other things.

FIG. 4 shows a view 182 that is displayed upon selection of one of theringtone download buttons 180 in the view 176 of FIG. 3. A profile ofthe acquiring user computer system 24 is previously stored on thecontent delivery platform and content management system 46 of FIG. 1,including a mobile phone number 184 and a password 186. The view 182includes the mobile phone number 184 and a password text box 188 forentering the password 186. The view 182 also has a “transmission” button190. Upon selection of the “transmission” button 190, a signal is sentfrom the user computer system 24 over the Internet 30 to the Web site48. The Web site 48 communicates with the content delivery platform andcontent management system 46, which uses the selected search result toaccess one of the ringtones on the media file server 42. The contentdelivery platform and content management system 46 then transmits a linkcorresponding to the accessed ringtone on the media file server 42 overthe SMS/MMS network 40 to a user mobile device 32, 34, or 36 having themobile phone number 184 in the view 182 of FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, the link 190 that is received at for example theuser mobile device 32 comes in the form of an SMS message 192 thatincludes the link 190. An acquiring user can utilize “arrow” and “enter”keys 194 of the user mobile device 32 to select the link 190.

Upon selection of the link 190 and confirmation of the download as shownin FIG. 6, the user mobile device 32 transmits a requesting signal overthe WAP network 38 in FIG. 1 to the content delivery platform andcontent management system 46. The content delivery platform and contentmanagement system 46 then automatically transmits a copy of the selectedringtone (or other media file) from the media file server 42 over theWAP network 38 to the respective user mobile device 32. The respectiveuser mobile device 32 then automatically stores the copy of the selectedringtone in memory. As shown in FIG. 7, the user mobile device 32 thendisplays a message that confirms that the file has been downloaded andstored in memory of the user mobile device 32.

3. SMS with a Search Identifier

FIG. 8 illustrates components of the content delivery platform andcontent management system 46 that are used for responding to an SMSmessage with a search identifier “Get” that is received directly fromfor example the user mobile device 32 in FIG. 1. The components of thecontent delivery platform and content management system 46 shown in FIG.8 provide a system that is different from and in addition to the systemas hereinbefore described that utilizes the Website 48 in FIG. 1.

The content delivery platform and content management system 46 furtherincludes a search engine, hereinafter referred to as an “extractionmodule” 200, a message generation and transmissions module 202, aresults page request receiving module 204, a results page generation andtransmissions module 206, a selection command receiving module 208, adownload page 210, a download command receiving module 211 and a filetransmissions module 214. The functioning of the system shown in FIG. 8will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 14 in conjunctionwith FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 9, the user of the user mobile device 32 prepares amessage to an address 48000 with the text “Get Fergie” and then selectsa “send” button to transmit the message. The message is transmitted fromthe user mobile device 32 over the SMS/MMS network 40 and is received bythe SMS/MMS gateway 52. FIG. 10 shows a view that is displayed on theuser mobile device 32 following transmission of the message.

SMS/MMS gateway 52 is connected to the extraction module 200. Theextraction module 200 recognizes the text “Get” and the search query“Fergie” in the SMS message. The text “Get” serves as a searchidentifier. Upon detection of the search identifier “Get” by theextraction module 200, the extraction module 200 thus determines thatthe message includes a search identifier and then utilizes the searchquery “Fergie” to extract a plurality of search results from the filedatabase 44. In some embodiments, search results include a link tostreaming content, including a radio station coupled to the contentdelivery platform and content management system 46. Search results canalso include a user-created custom radio station that streams variouscontent from various content sources, including file server 42 and otherremote locations, including remote server computer systems and the like.

The message generation and transmissions module 202 is connected to theextraction module 200 and transmits a message through the SMS/MMSgateway 52 and the SMS/MMS network 40 to the user mobile device 32. If,as in the present example, the extraction module 200 has detected thesearch identifier “Get” in the SMS message of FIG. 9, the message thatis transmitted by the message generation and transmissions module 202 asreceived by the user mobile device 32 and is shown in FIG. 11. Themessage includes a link 214 that can be selected by a user utilizing the“arrow” and “enter” keys 194 of the user mobile device 32 in FIG. 5. Thelink 214 includes the search request “Fergie” and a return address (thephone number) of the user mobile device 32. If, on the other hand, thesearch identifier “Get” was not present in the text, a message is sentto the mobile user device 32 with text stating that the message from theuser mobile device 32 was in error.

4. WAP Site

FIG. 12A shows a view of a WAP browser that automatically launches uponselection of the link 214 in FIG. 11. Upon selection of the link 214, aresults page request command is transmitted by the user mobile device 32over the WAP network 38 and is received by the results page requestreceiving module 204. The command includes the entire link 214. Theresults page generation and transmissions module 206 is connected to theresults page request receiving module 204 and to the extraction module200. The results page generation and transmissions module 206 generatesa results page that includes the search results that are extracted bythe extraction module 200 and transmits the results page via the WAPsite 50 and the WAP network 38 to the user mobile device 32. FIG. 12Ashows the results page and the search results 216 that are displayed bythe WAP browser of the user mobile device 32.

FIG. 12B shows an alternative where a WAP browser is directed to anartist-specific page. An artist-specific page is displayed when aone-to-one match can be made between the search query and theartist-specific page. A track-specific page can be displayed when aone-to-one match can be made between the query and the track. Astream-specific page, including a page associated with a content streamassociated with a radio station, can be displayed when a one-to-onematch can be made between the query and one or more of the stream andthe radio station. A results page such as in FIG. 12A is displayed whena one-to-one relationship cannot be made between the query and either anartist, a track, a stream, a radio station, and the like. The resultspage thus displays results from more than one artist or track.

In the present example, the user selects the first search result“pedestal” to cause transmission of a selection command from the usermobile device 32 over the WAP network 38 and the WAP site 50. Theselection command receiving module 208 is connected to the WAP site 50and to the download page 210 so that the download page 210 istransmitted over the WAP site 50 and the WAP network 38 to the usermobile device 32. FIG. 13 shows a view of the download page 210 on theuser mobile device 32. The download page 210 includes a “download”button 218. The buttons of the user mobile device 32 can be used toselect the download button 218, which causes transmission of a downloadcommand from the user mobile device 32 over the WAP network 38.

The download command receiving module 211 is connected to the WAPnetwork 38 so as to receive the download command. The file transmissionsmodule 212 is connected to the file server 42 and to the downloadcommand receiving module 211. The download command includes the name ofthe particular file in the file server 42, i.e., the file correspondingto the entry “pedestal” in the file database 44. The file transmissionsmodule 214 utilizes the name of the entry in the download command toextract the corresponding file from the file server 42, and thentransmits the file over the WAP network 38 to the user mobile device 32.FIG. 14 shows a view that is displayed on the user mobile device 32 toconfirm downloading of the respective file. Upon selection of aconfirmation button 220, the file is downloaded and saved in memory ofthe user mobile device 32 as hereinbefore described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7.

In another example, the user selects the first search result “pedestal”to cause transmission of a selection command from the user mobile device32 over the WAP network 38 and the WAP site 50. The selection commandreceiving module 208 is connected to the WAP site 50 and to a contentaccess page so that the content access page is transmitted over the WAPsite 50 and the WAP network 38 to the user mobile device 32. The contentaccess page can include a link to content and an interface with whichthe user can interact to access the content, provide feedback and otheractions regarding the content, and specify one or more of parameters andpreferences regarding the content. For example, the interface caninclude a content player, including a media player application, whichcan play a content stream from a radio station to the user. The mediaplayer application can also play a content stream from a customer radiostation to the user. The user can interact with the content access pageto select a link, interact with the interface, or the like, which cancause transmission of an access command from the user mobile device 32over the WAP network 38.

An access command receiving module, which can be part of the downloadcommand receiving module 211, can be connected to the WAP network 38 soas to receive the access command. A content transmissions module, whichcan be part of the file transmissions module 214, can be connected tothe file server 42, various content sources, and to the download commandreceiving module 211. In some embodiments, the content transmissionsmodule can transmit additional content, including applications,programs, and the like associated with various content. For example, thecontent transmissions module can transmit a token to one or more usermobile devices and user computer systems that tracks user actions andinteractions with regard to various web sites, programs, content, andthe like, including, without limitation, content transmitted by thecontent transmissions module. The access command includes the name ofthe particular content, i.e., the content corresponding to the entry“pedestal” in the file database 44. The content transmissions moduleutilizes the name of the entry in the access command to extract thecorresponding content from corresponding one or more content sources,and then transmits the file over the WAP network 38 to the user mobiledevice 32. For example, where the access command includes a name of aparticular custom radio station created by a user, the contenttransmissions module extracts parameters associated with the customradio station from a storage location, such as file database 44, andprovides content associated with the custom radio station from one ormore various content sources, as directed by the parameters.

It can also been seen that the SMS messaging capabilities of the usermobile device 32 can be used to transmit a request for various content,including a media file, streaming content including a radio station, andthe like. There is thus no need to utilize the WAP browser on the usermobile device 32 to search for and request a media file or to use a Webbrowser on a personal computer to search for and request a media file.

5. Registration and Login of User Computer

As shown in FIG. 15 the file database 44 includes content data andregistered user data. The content data includes a plurality of tracks,each track having an associated artist and an associated graphic. Eachtrack corresponds to a respective media file in the file database 44. Insome embodiments, the content data includes one or more playlists ofcontent, including links to streaming content provided by variouscontent sources coupled to the server computer system 22. For example,content data can include a link to a playlist of streaming content froma radio station that is accessed at least in part from one or moreremote server computer systems. The registered user data includes aplurality of user names, each with an associated phone number, emailaddress and password. In some embodiments, the registered user dataincludes information associated with user interactions with variouscontent. Interactions can include, without limitation, custom radiostations created by a registered user, specific content accessed by aregistered user, custom content accessed by a registered user, feedbackprovided by a user regarding various content, actions taken by a user toskip plays of various content and repeat plays of various content, savesof one or more stations, user profiles and stations associated with theprofiles, users associated with a registered user as “friends”,publications of various interactions by a registered user to varioussites, such as a Facebook timeline, and the like.

The Web site 48 includes an unregistered user area 260 and a registereduser area 262. A user at one of the user computer systems 24, 26 or 28in FIG. 1 can log onto the Web site 48 by entering login information orby automatically transmitting a cookie to the server computer system 22.The server computer system 22 compares the login information or thecookie with registered user data in the file database 44 and, upon afavorable comparison, provides the user computer system 24, 26 or 28access to the registered user area 262. In the event of an unfavorablecomparison or if login information or a cookie is not received at theserver computer system 22, the respective user computer system 24, 26 or28 is only provided access to the unregistered area 260. A user computersystem 24, 26 or 28 that is provided only access to the unregistereduser area 260 can still obtain access to the registered user area 262following completion of a registration process. In some embodiments, auser at a user mobile device 32, 34, or 36, as illustrated in FIG. 1,can log onto the Web site 48 and be provided access to one or more ofthe unregistered user area 260 and the registered user area 262, asdiscussed above.

In some embodiments, an unregistered area 260 can provide a user withlimited access to various functionalities associated with the web site48. Such limited access can include access to some or all offunctionality associated with web site 48 until a threshold is reached,upon which access is restricted to a reduced selection of some or noneof the functionality. For example, a user computer system 24, 26, or 28can be provided access to an unregistered user area 260 that providessome or all of the functionality of the registered user area until athreshold is reached, upon which the user computer system is restrictedfrom accessing some or all of the functionality of the registered userarea. A threshold can be determined by a combination of various factorsincluding, without limitation, a predetermined period of time in whichthe web site 48 is accessed, a certain number of actions andinteractions with functionality provided by the web site 48, and thelike.

Thresholds can be stored locally to server computer system 22 and inremote locations, including a user computer system 24, 26, or 28 towhich access to the unregistered area 260 is being provided. In someembodiments, thresholds are associated with a token, which can be a webcookie provided to each user computer system provided access to theunregistered area 260. For example, where user computer system 24 isprovided access to unregistered area 260, and unregistered area 260provides access to at least some functionality otherwise provided viaregistered area 262 until a threshold is reached, the token can bedownloaded to the user computer system 24. The token can monitoractivity by a user associated with the user computer system 24 withregards to the web site 48 until the threshold is determined to bereached, based on the user's activity, including interactions withregard to the web site 48, at which time access can be partially orcompletely restricted. Users that are provided access to functionalitythrough unregistered area 260 through user computer systems 24, 26, or28 can be identified as anonymous users. In some embodiments, the numberof anonymous users allowed per associated user computer systems 24, 26,or 28 can be restricted to a certain number. For example, the number ofanonymous users per user computer system can be set at one for any giventime, set at one for the lifetime of the user computer system, or thelike. Such restrictions can be included and imposed by a tokendownloaded to a user computer system.

Thresholds can be configurable; for example, thresholds can beconfigured based on various functionalities provided by web site 48 byone or more authorized users and can be downloaded from server computersystem 22. For example, in an embodiment where web site 48 providesaccess to various content streams from one or more radio stations, athreshold can be configured to be reached upon use of 3 custom radiostations, with 5 songs played per station and 10 interactions perstation, where interactions can include skipping a play of a song,voting approval or disapproval of a song, and the like.

In some embodiments, the token downloaded to a user computer system cantrack and preserve history data associated with user interactions withregard to the web site 48 by a user during the period in which the useris provided access to at least some of the functionality provided by theregistered user area 262. The history data can be stored as a localcache on the user computer system utilized by the user to perform theuser's interactions. Upon restriction of such access based on athreshold being reached, if the user becomes a registered user, thehistory data can be provided to server computer system 22 to be storedin file database 44 as at least part of registered user data associatedwith the now-registered user. For example, where a user is providedaccess to registered user area functionality through the unregistereduser area that includes the ability to create a custom radio station,and access to the custom radio station is restricted after a thresholdis reached, the token can preserve data associated with the customstation and, in response to the user becoming a registered user, uploadthe data to server computer system 22 so that the user can resume accessto the custom station as it was at the time the threshold was reached.Upon upload of the history data to the server computer system 22, thehistory data can be removed from the user computer system associatedwith the now-registered user by, for example, clearing the local cache.

In some embodiments, the token downloaded to a user computer system cantrack and preserve parameters and preferences specified by the user withregards to various features and content associated with web site 48. Insome embodiments, the token can track and preserve history dataassociated with user interactions including feedback provided by theuser with regards to various functionality of web site 48. Such data canbe provided to various entities, including web services, in associationwith one or more web service calls. For example, the token can be passedas a parameter to a certain web service in association with a certainweb service call to provide the web service with data associated withuser-specified preferences and parameters, feedback, and the likeassociated with content provided by the web service, including playlistsbroadcast by a radio station and other various content items. Suchpassing of the token can occur as the user takes certain trackedinteractions, at certain intervals, or the like.

The history data can be preserved at the user computer system associatedwith the user for a period of time after the threshold is reached.Alternatively or in addition, the history data can be preserved untilone or more additional thresholds are reached, including the userdeclining to become a registered user upon the threshold being reached.

FIG. 15A illustrates a diagram 1500 of various interactions 1501provided to various users based on registration of the user, withvarious associated parameters. As illustrated, certain interactions 1502with content can be provided to both registered users and users grantedtemporary access to at least some functionality normally granted only toregistered users. Such supported interactions can include, withoutlimitation, creating a custom playlist of various content, such as acustom radio station, playing a custom song, providing feedback andother actions regarding content, including content provided by a customradio station, including votes, ratings, skips, and repeats; andproviding live feedback regarding provided content. In addition, asillustrated, certain interactions 1504 with content can be provided onlyto registered users, including users granted access to web site 48through registered user area 260, as illustrated in FIG. 15. Suchsupported interactions can include, without limitation, saving a customradio station created by the user, creating and accessing some or all ofa user profile associated with the web site, including a view ofstations associated with the profile, viewing and associating the user'sprofile with various users associated with one or more of the user'sprofile and other profiles of the user associated with other web sites,services, and networks, including social networking sites; andpublishing information associated with the user's interactions with theweb site on other sites and networks, such as publishing the user'sinteraction history with various content on a social networking site'snews feed.

As illustrated in FIG. 15A, various supported interactions cancontribute to a predetermined threshold which, when reached, can resultin temporary access for an anonymous user accessing content through theunregistered area 262 of FIG. 15 to be restricted or disallowed. Asshown in column 1508, a predetermined threshold can be reached throughvariable numbers of certain interactions. For example, as illustrated, athreshold can be reached after one or more of three custom radiostations are created, five custom songs are played from a given customradio station, and ten actions associated with feedback, such as votes,and skips are taken by the user. In addition, some interactions can befree from contribution to a threshold, and can be performed withoutrestriction by an anonymous user for the duration of the temporaryaccess. For example, as illustrated, no threshold value is associatedwith providing feedback, such as a vote, regarding a live broadcast ofcontent, including a live radio station stream of content. Someinteractions, including feedback regarding live broadcast content, canbe provided to various entities, such as content sources, in real-timeor near-real-time, in addition to or in alternative to being preservedby the token in a local cache for uploading at a later time. As shown,interactions provided to registered users only are not associated with athreshold value, as such interactions 1504 are not provided on atemporary basis to anonymous users.

In some embodiments, access to various content and interactions variesbased on the platform utilized by the user. As shown by column 1510,various interactions are provided to the user via one or both of a webplatform or a mobile platform. For example, the interactions involvingviewing one's profile and friends can be restricted to accessingfunctionality through a web platform. As shown by columns 1512 and 1514,various interactions can involve message ID's specific to the platformused.

FIG. 16 illustrates a browser view 276 that displays a user-specifichomepage 278 at the user computer system 24 in FIG. 1. Because theserver computer system 22 has detected login information, theuser-specific homepage 278 includes a username 288 from the filedatabase 44 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the login information. Theuser-specific homepage 278 also includes links 290 from the filedatabase 44 corresponding to media files that have previously beenpurchased by the specific user of the specific user computer system 24and represented by the username 288. In some embodiments, links 290 cancorrespond to various content accessed by the specific user in the pastand various content that is determined to be associated with othercontent accessed by the specific user. For example, one or more links290 can correspond to a media player that provides a content stream froma radio station the specific user has listened to in the past, a mediaplayer that provides a custom content stream from a custom radio stationthat the specific user has created. A link 290 can correspond to a mediaplayer that provides a custom content stream from a custom stationcreated by a user other than the specific user. For example, a link 290can correspond to a custom radio station created by another user that isassociated with the specific user on a social networking site, such as aFacebook “friend.” The user-specific homepage 278 also includes searchand browsing functionality that allows the user of the user computersystem 24 to search or find other media files for transmission to theuser mobile device 32. Upon selection of such media files andinstructions for downloading such media files, the media files will betransmitted to the user mobile device 32 without transmitting anintervening page from the server computer system 22 to the user computersystem 24 requesting a phone number or login information such as ausername or password.

FIG. 17 illustrates a general homepage 292 that is displayed at the usercomputer system 24 if a login is not detected. The general homepage 292includes the same search and browse functionality as the user-specifichomepage 278 in FIG. 16. However, the username 288 and links 290 in theuser-specific homepage 278 of FIG. 16 are not displayed in the generalhomepage 292 of FIG. 17. A different user-specific homepage istransmitted to each user computer system from which login information isdetected, but the same general homepage 292 of FIG. 17 is transmitted toall user computer systems from which login information is not receivedor cannot be validated. In some embodiments, the general homepage 292provides limited access to various content based on a threshold, whichcan be associated with one or more of the content itself and the website the homepage 292 is associated with. Access can include the beingallowed to perform certain selected interactions with the variouscontent, including specifying preferences and parameters, creatingcustomized playlists and collections of content, providing feedbackregarding certain content, and the like. Access can be restricted when athreshold is reached.

FIG. 17A illustrates a roadblock 1700 that is displayed during use ofthe general homepage 292 displayed at the user computer system 24 if alogin is not detected. In some embodiments, the general homepage 292 canprovide a user with limited access to various functionality associatedwith the web site 48. Such limited access can include access to some orall of functionality associated with web site 48 until a threshold isreached, upon which access is restricted to a reduced selection of someor none of the functionality. In some embodiments, in response to thethreshold being reached, a roadblock 1700 is displayed to the user, andinteraction with some or all of general homepage 292 is restricted whilethe roadblock is displayed. As shown in FIG. 17A, the roadblock can bepresented to overlay some or all of general homepage 292. For example, auser computer system 24, 26, or 28 can be provided access to an generalhomepage 292 that provides some or all of the functionality of theuser-specific homepage of FIG. 16 until a threshold is reached, uponwhich the roadblock 1700 is presented and the user computer system isrestricted from accessing some or all of the functionality of thegeneral homepage 292.

In some embodiments, a roadblock 1700 includes functionality thatenables a user to register for access to web site 48. A registrationbutton 1702 can enable the user to register, while a declining button1704 can enable a user to decline the offer to register. Additionalmessages, images, or the like displayed by the roadblock 1700 can informthe user of incentives and benefits of registration. Upon clicking theregistration button 1702 and registering, the user can be providedaccess to the user-specific homepage illustrated in FIG. 16, while, uponclicking the declining button 1704, the user can continue accessing arestricted set of functionality provided by general homepage 292, exitfrom the web site 48, or the like.

In some embodiments, roadblocks are displayed based on a various promptsother than a threshold being reached. Roadblock can temporarily obstructnormal interaction with web site functionality by displaying a messagewith which a user can choose to interact further or dismiss. Roadblockscan be displayed based upon actions by a user. For example, a roadblockmay be displayed in response to a user creating a custom radio station,playing one or more custom songs, or the like. Roadblocks can provideinformation specific to recent actions or behavior by the user,including actions triggering the roadblock. For example, a roadblocktriggered by a user creating a custom station can include a messageinforming the user that he can register to save the custom station andaccess the custom station from a different device associated with theuser. In another example, a roadblock triggered by a threshold beingreached can reference various parameters associated with contentrecently accessed by the user, including artists, titles, and the like,to inform the user that registration can allow the user to access radiostations associated with such parameters. In another example, aroadblock can, if the user is currently logged into a social network,indicate to the user other users of the social network with whom theuser is associated (e.g., Facebook “friends”) that are also registered.

In some embodiments, a roadblock is provided to the user as aninterstitial based on various triggers. For example, a roadblock can bedisplayed to the user as an interstitial upon first accessing a homepage associated with the web site. The interstitial can be provided uponfirst accessing one or more services associated with the web site atcertain or at certain intervals; for example, every fifth access of acertain link, service, or the like. In another example, where a user isaccessing a stream of content associated with a radio station, aninterstitial can be presented to the user after a certain number ofcontent items are streamed to the user.

6. Automatic Login of Mobile Device

FIG. 18 illustrates a computer and network system 10 that can be usedfor automatic login of mobile device. The computer and network system 10includes the user computer system 24, the server computer system 22, themobile carrier computer system 12, and the user mobile device 32.Although only one user computer system 24 and one user mobile device 32are shown in FIG. 18, there may be a plurality of user computer systemsand a plurality of user mobile devices in the computer and networksystem 10. The user computer system 24 is connected to the servercomputer system 22 over the Internet 30 or other forms of network. Theserver computer system 22 has a file database 44 for storing registereduser data 442 and has memory for storing data such as an InternetProtocol (IP) address. The registered user data 442 includes username,password, phone number, and email address that is associated with aparticular user 72. It also includes user-specific settings, forexample, a user-specific homepage that is presented to the user 72 whenthe user is first logged into the server computer system 22.

The user mobile device 32 is connected to the server computer system 22over the WAP network 38 which is maintained by the mobile carriercomputer system 12. Both the user mobile device 32 and the mobilecarrier computer system 12 have memories for storing IP addresses. Inaddition, the mobile carrier computer system 12 also has memory forstoring unique identifier of the user mobile device, for example, atelephone number.

In use, the mobile carrier computer system 12 dynamically assigns an IPaddress to the user mobile device 32. Although the IP address assignedto the user mobile device 32 may stay the same for long periods of time,it can generally change. In contrast to static IP addresses which do notchange, dynamic IP addresses have several advantages. They avoid theadministrative burden of assigning specific static addresses to eachuser mobile device on a network. In some instances, they also allow manyuser mobile devices to share limited address space on a network when notall of them are online at the same time. In use, the mobile carriercomputer system 12 keeps track of the unique identifier of a particularuser mobile device, to which a particular dynamic IP address isassigned.

In use, the user 72 has control of both the user computer system 24 andthe user mobile device 32. FIG. 19 and FIG. 19A illustrate signals thatare transmitted between the server computer system 22, the carriercomputer system 12, and the user mobile device 32 in FIG. 1. At step800, the user 72 may register both the user computer system 24 and theuser mobile device 32 at the server computer system 22 using the usercomputer system 24. Details of the registration process are described inthe last section. When the registration is completed, an entry iscreated in the registered user data 442 in FIG. 18 that includes theunique phone number of the user mobile device 32. A user-specifichomepage associated with the user mobile device 32 is also saved in theregistered user data 442.

At step 802, when the user 72 enters the URL thumbplay.com in the WAPbrowser on the user mobile device 32, the device sends a homepagerequest to the server computer system 22 via WAP network. At step 804,the server computer system 22 detects the IP address of the user mobiledevice 32 via the mobile carrier computer system 12. At step 806, thecarrier computer system 12 sends to the server computer system 22 aphone number that corresponds to the IP address. At step 808, the servercomputer system 22 then compares the phone number with registered userdata 442. As shown in FIG. 19, at step 810, upon a favorable comparisonof the phone number, the server computer system 22 retrieves fromregistered user data 442 the user-specific homepage associated with thephone number, and sends the homepage to the user mobile device 32. Inthis way, the mobile device 32 is automatically logged onto the servercomputer system 22 without the need to transmit any login informationsuch as user name and password.

Alternatively, the user 72 may send an SMS message with a homepageidentifier “Homepage” to the server computer system 22. The servercomputer system 22 goes through steps 804, 806, and 808 above. Upon afavorable comparison of the phone number, the server computer system 22sends an SMS message to the user mobile device 32 with a link to theuser-specific homepage. When the user 72 selects the link, the WAPbrowser on the user mobile device will be launched with theuser-specific homepage.

As shown in FIG. 19A, at step 1910, upon an unfavorable comparison ofthe phone number, the server computer system sends a general homepage tothe user mobile device. The general homepage can be a generalizedhomepage that is not associated with any particular user, and caninclude reduced functionality in comparison to the user-specifichomepage. In addition or in alternative, the general homepage caninclude limited access to some or all of the functionality provided bythe user-specific homepage, where such functionality can be restrictedbased upon one or more thresholds being reached. As shown in FIG. 18, atoken 94 can be provided to the user at one or more of the user mobiledevice 32 and user computer system 24. The token 94 can be sentconcurrently or separately with the general homepage and, as shown instep 1912, can track activity by the user associated with the generalhomepage, including interactions with functionality provided by thehomepage. For example, where the general homepage provides access to atleast some functionality otherwise provided via the user-specifichomepage until a threshold is reached, the token can be downloaded tothe user mobile device. The token 94 can monitor interactions by theuser with regards to the provided functionality, the general homepage,and the like until the threshold is determined to be reached, based onthe user's interactions, at which time access can be partially orcompletely restricted, as shown in step 1914. In some embodiments, thetoken 94 can track and preserve history data associated withinteractions and interactions by a user during the period in which theuser is provided access to at least some of the functionality providedby the registered user area 262. The history data can be stored as alocal cache on the user computer system utilized in the user'sinteractions. In some embodiments, the token can track and preservehistory data from a device remote from the device utilized in the user'sinteractions with the web site; for example, the user's interactions andactivities can be tracked from the server computer system 22.

Upon restriction of such access based on a threshold being reached, asshown in step 1914, the user can be presented with a roadblock,illustrated and discussed above with reference to FIG. 17A. Theroadblock can inform the user of the restriction of access and offer theuser an opportunity to resume access via registration. If the useragrees to register, a registration request can be sent to the servercomputer system 22, as shown in step 1916. In response, the user isregistered at 1918, which can include registering one or more of theuser's mobile device and user computer system. Details of theregistration process are described in the last section. The user canthen be provided access to the user-specific homepage, as shown in step1920. In addition, if the user becomes a registered user, the historydata preserved by the token 94 can be provided to server computer system22, concurrently or separately with the registration request 1916, to bestored in file database 44 as at least part of registered user dataassociated with the now-registered user. The history data can beincorporated into the user-specific homepage. For example, where a useris provided access to registered user area functionality through theunregistered user area that includes the ability to create a customradio station, and access to the custom radio station is restrictedafter a threshold is reached, the token can preserve data associatedwith the custom station and, in response to the user becoming aregistered user, upload the data to server computer system 22 andprovide a user-specific homepage that includes access to the customstation so that the user can resume access to the custom station as itwas at the time the threshold was reached.

In some embodiments, data associated with anonymous interactions withfunctionalities provided through the general homepage can be reported.Interactions can be reported to various entities in real-time ornear-real-time, at various intervals, intermittently, or the like. Forexample, where an unregistered, or anonymous, user provides feedback fora live broadcast of content access through the general homepage, thefeedback can be reported immediately to various entities, including thesource of the broadcast content, the server computer system, or thelike. Some interactions can be reported upon registration of theanonymous user, or upon one or more other events. Reporting can involveweb service calls associated with the token tracking and preserving dataassociated with user interactions. Relationships between various webservice calls associated with the anonymous token and various elementsincluding, without limitation, total listening hours (TLH), can bereported. Reported interactions can be grouped by specific types ofinteractions. For example, where a provided functionality includesallowing a user to create a custom radio station, interactionsassociated with creation of custom radio stations by anonymous users,such as quantity and frequency of creations on a per-user or totalbasis, can be reported. Performance of one or more functionalities,including access to various content and interactions with variouscontent, provided to one or more of anonymous and registered users canbe reported including, without limitation, creation of custom contentplaylists and the like; playing of songs from the custom contentplaylists; feedback regarding the songs, skips, repeats, and otheractions regarding content played; and feedback regarding live streamingcontent, such as live radio station song votes. In addition, the numberof roadblock presentations, interactions with roadblocks, and conversionof users from anonymous to registered can be tracked and reported asconversion performance, and such conversion can be compared with use ofvarious provided functionalities to enable evaluation of the variousprovided functionalities with regards to user registration. Such reportscan be utilized to augment provided functionalities to improveconversion performance, improve marketing strategies, and the like.

7. Computer System

FIG. 20 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in theexemplary form of a computer system 900 within which a set ofinstructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein, may be executed. In alternativeembodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may beconnected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Themachine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box(STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a webappliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable ofexecuting a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a singlemachine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken toinclude any collection of machines that individually or jointly executea set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more ofthe methodologies discussed herein.

The exemplary computer system 900 includes a processor 902 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) orboth), a main memory 904 (e.g., read only memory (ROM), flash memory,dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) orRambus DRAM (RDRAM), etc.), and a static memory 906 (e.g., flash memory,static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which communicate with eachother via a bus 908.

The computer system 900 may further include a video display 910 (e.g., aliquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computersystem 900 also includes an alpha-numeric input device 912 (e.g., akeyboard), a cursor control device 914 (e.g., a mouse), a disk driveunit 916, a signal generation device 918 (e.g., a speaker), and anetwork interface device 920.

The disk drive unit 916 includes a machine-readable medium 922 on whichis stored one or more sets of instructions 924 (e.g., software)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein. The software may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 904 and/or within the processor 902 duringexecution thereof by the computer system 900, the main memory 904 andthe processor 902 also constituting machine-readable media.

The software may further be transmitted or received over a network 928via the network interface device 920.

While the machine-readable medium 924 is shown in an exemplaryembodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include anynon-transitory medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set ofinstructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine toperform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention.The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical andmagnetic media.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments aremerely illustrative and not restrictive of the current invention, andthat this invention is not restricted to the specific constructions andarrangements shown and described since modifications may occur to thoseordinarily skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for use in a processing systemconfigured to control access to a website, the method comprising:receiving at the processing system, from a first network connecteddevice, device registration information from a registered user of awebsite, the device registration information including a registeredtelephone number assigned to a mobile communications device, wherein thefirst network connected device is a device other than the mobilecommunications device; receiving at the processing system, a request fora homepage of the website, the request for a homepage being receivedfrom a requesting mobile communications device coupled to the processingsystem via a mobile carrier communications system; determining anInternet Protocol (IP) address associated with the request for ahomepage; obtaining, from the mobile carrier communications system atelephone number currently associated with the IP address; attempting toautomatically login the requesting mobile communications device to thewebsite by matching the telephone number currently associated with theIP address to the registered telephone number; and conditionallytransmitting different versions of the homepage to the requesting mobilecommunications device based on whether the requesting mobilecommunications device has been automatically logged in to the website.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing an associationbetween the registered telephone number and a user-specific version ofthe homepage; and in response to the requesting mobile communicationsdevice automatically logging in to the website, transmitting theuser-specific version of the homepage to the requesting mobilecommunications device.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: inresponse to a failure of the requesting mobile communications device toautomatically log in to the website, transmitting a general version ofthe homepage to the requesting mobile communications device.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising: transmitting a token associatedwith one or more web service calls to the requesting mobilecommunications device; and tracking user interactions with the one ormore web service calls using the token.
 5. The method of claim 3,further comprising: transmitting an interstitial upon first access toone or more services provided via the general version of the homepage.6. The method of claim 1, wherein conditionally transmitting includes:transmitting different user-specific versions of the homepage to each ofa plurality of requesting mobile communications devices associated withtelephone numbers different registered telephone numbers; andtransmitting a same general version of the homepage to a plurality ofrequesting mobile communications devices associated with telephonenumbers not matching a registered telephone number.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the request for a homepage of the website is aWireless Application Protocol (WAP) request; and the different versionsof the homepage are transmitted using WAP.
 8. A system configured tocontrol access to a website, the system comprising: a processor; memorycoupled to the processor; a program of instructions stored in the memoryand executed by the processor, the program of instructions including: atleast one instruction to receive, from a first network connected device,device registration information from a registered user of a website, thedevice registration information including a registered telephone numberassigned to a mobile communications device, wherein the first networkconnected device is a device other than the mobile communicationsdevice; at least one instruction to receive a request for a homepage ofthe website, the request for a homepage being received from a requestingmobile communications device coupled to the system via a mobile carriercommunications system; at least one instruction to determine an InternetProtocol (IP) address associated with the request for a homepage; atleast one instruction to obtain, from the mobile carrier communicationssystem, a telephone number currently associated with the IP address; atleast one instruction to attempt automatic login of the requestingmobile communications device to the website by matching the telephonenumber currently associated with the IP address to the registeredtelephone number; and at least one instruction to conditionally transmitdifferent versions of the homepage to the requesting mobilecommunications device based on whether the requesting mobilecommunications device has been automatically logged in to the website.9. The system of claim 8, further comprising: at least one instructionto store an association between the registered telephone number and auser-specific version of the homepage; and at least one instruction totransmit the user-specific version of the homepage to the requestingmobile communications device in response to the requesting mobile devicebeing automatically logged in to the website.
 10. The system of claim 8,further comprising: at least one instruction to transmit a generalversion of the homepage to the requesting mobile communications devicein response to a failure of the requesting mobile communications deviceto automatically log in to the website.
 11. The system of claim 10,further comprising: at least one instruction to transmit a tokenassociated with one or more web service calls to the requesting mobilecommunications device; and at least one instruction to track userinteractions with the one or more web service calls using the token. 12.The system of claim 10, further comprising: at least one instruction totransmit an interstitial upon first access to one or more servicesprovided via the general version of the homepage.
 13. The system ofclaim 8, wherein conditionally transmitting includes: transmittingdifferent user-specific versions of the homepage to each of a pluralityof requesting mobile communications devices associated with telephonenumbers different registered telephone numbers; and transmitting a samegeneral version of the homepage to a plurality of requesting mobilecommunications devices associated with telephone numbers not matching aregistered telephone number.
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein: therequest for a homepage of the website is a Wireless Application Protocol(WAP) request; and the different versions of the homepage aretransmitted using WAP.
 15. A non-transitory computer readable mediumtangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to be stored ina memory and executed by a processor, the program of instructionsincluding: at least one instruction to receive, from a first networkconnected device, device registration information from a registered userof a website, the device registration information including a registeredtelephone number assigned to a mobile communications device, wherein thefirst network connected device is a device other than the mobilecommunications device; at least one instruction to receive a request fora homepage of the website, the request for a homepage being receivedfrom a requesting mobile communications device coupled to the processingsystem via a mobile carrier communications system; at least oneinstruction to determine an Internet Protocol (IP) address associatedwith the request for a homepage; at least one instruction to obtain,from the mobile carrier communications system, a telephone numbercurrently associated with the IP address; at least one instruction toattempt automatic login of the requesting mobile communications deviceto the website by matching the telephone number currently associatedwith the IP address to the registered telephone number; and at least oneinstruction to conditionally transmit different versions of the homepageto the requesting mobile communications device based on whether therequesting mobile communications device has been automatically logged into the website.
 16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim15, further comprising: at least one instruction to store an associationbetween the registered telephone number and a user-specific version ofthe homepage; and at least one instruction to transmit the user-specificversion of the homepage to the requesting mobile communications devicein response to the requesting mobile device being automatically loggedin to the website.
 17. The non-transitory computer readable medium ofclaim 15, further comprising: at least one instruction to transmit ageneral version of the homepage to the requesting mobile communicationsdevice in response to a failure of the requesting mobile communicationsdevice to automatically log in to the website.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising: at least oneinstruction to transmit a token associated with one or more web servicecalls to the requesting mobile communications device; and at least oneinstruction to track user interactions with the one or more web servicecalls using the token.
 19. The non-transitory computer readable mediumof claim 15, wherein conditionally transmitting includes: transmittingdifferent user-specific versions of the homepage to each of a pluralityof requesting mobile communications devices associated with telephonenumbers different registered telephone numbers; and transmitting a samegeneral version of the homepage to a plurality of requesting mobilecommunications devices associated with telephone numbers not matching aregistered telephone number.
 20. The non-transitory computer readablemedium of claim 15, wherein: the request for a homepage of the websiteis a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) request; and the differentversions of the homepage are transmitted using WAP.